Marietta High boys soccer team sitting on 399 wins as a program

Ron Johnston

Sports Writer

rjohnston@mariettatimes.com

JORDAN HOLLAND The Marietta Times
Marietta High’s Jake Craven (1) handles the ball during a high school boys soccer match against Williamstown last season at Jerry Brock Field in Devola.

Marietta High’s next victory on the boys’ soccer pitch will be eventful, and could possibly come as early as its season and home opener against Dover High at 7 p.m. Tuesday Aug. 21.

“Will have a major program milestone this season as we currently are sitting on 399 wins as a program,” said veteran Tigers head coach Todd Morris.

Before Dover, an East Central Ohio League opponent, Marietta is scheduled to scrimmage at Ripley (Aug. 8), and then host Jackson (Aug. 9) and Morgan (Aug. 15) in exhibitions. The Tigers’ alumni match is slated this Saturday.

Last season, ECOL runner-up Marietta posted a 10-7-2 overall record. The orange and black booters bowed out of postseason play at Logan High, where they dropped a 2-1 decision to Alexander High. From that team, MHS graduated striker Austyn Chen, goalkeeper Ian Coleman, defender Max Miller, and midfielders John Mannix and Dakota Lee.

Marietta may also have lost junior midfielder Cade Gandor (4 goals, 6 assists) to what is believed to be a season-ending ankle injury.

Chen, a second-team All-Ohio honoree, led the Tigers in scoring with 27 goals and six assists.

“We have holes to fill,” Morris said. “Our numbers are down this year, but we still think we have the potential to be a very competitive side. We have a good nucleus of returning players.”

Jake Craven is expected to lead the way. Last fall, he was a first-team All-District pick with 15 goals and a school single-season record 18 assists.

“Jake had a breakout season last year and we know game-in game-out the type of effort we will get from him,” Morris said.

Elsewhere on the pitch, the Tigers look solid with the return of starters Ryan Mannix, Adam Coil, Jantzen Gebzyck and Sean Fournier.

“Sean can be a stud center back and is coming off a great club soccer season with his Club Ohio team out of Dublin,” Morris said, “and Ryan’s midfield play will be key to our success this fall.

“We have had some younger guys step up and play well in our summer tournaments, so as a staff we feel confident we can be successful and a great fall.”

Overall…..

“We have had a difficult summer with numbers and injuries hampering some of our preseason work, but I think once we piece things together and get some good training sessions in, this is a team that can win our conference and be right there in the mix for a district championship,” Morris said. “We have the history and the pedigree, and have a plan and a vision in place on how we want to play the game, and we have some talented individuals that will make us a dangerous side.”